Today, Louie Jiang brings us the dynamic Semi-Slav played by IM Edward Porper as Black against GM Mekhitarian in the 9th round at Gibraltar. A small error on Black's thirteenth move led to an inferior position in which White was able to play a better position with very little risk. Playing against a pair of Bishops is rarely fun, and IM Porper wasn't quite able to save the game. Despite this setback, he finished off the event with a last-round win to perform right at his rating.
[Event "Tradewise Gibraltar"]
[Site "Caleta ENG"]
[Date "2014.02.05"]
[Round "9.26"]
[White "Krikor Sevag, Mekhitarian"]
[Black "Edward, Porper"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2566"]
[BlackElo "2444"]
[Annotator "Jiang,Louie"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2014.01.28"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 b5 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Bb7 11. e4 e5 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Nd4 {Here Black
deviates from the norm and places his knight on a questionable square.} Ng6 $6
(13... Neg4 14. g3 (14. Nf3 b4 15. h3 bxc3 16. hxg4 Nxg4 17. Qxc3 $11 {is the
computer suggestion, but even here Black should be okay.}) 14... Bxg3 15. hxg3
Qxd4 16. Qd1 Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Rfe8 18. f3 Ne5 19. Be3 $13 {is the main line, but
Black is in fact better here. White does have some compensation for the pawn,
but he will have to outplay Black to claim a win.}) 14. Nf5 $14 {Now White has
a comfortable edge. A slight pressure and better piece placement allows White
to call the shots.} Be5 15. f4 {White is determined to punish Black for his
misplaced knight. He begins to push in the center and Black has to find a way
to reactivate his pieces without exposing his weaknesses.} Bd4+ 16. Kh1 b4 17.
e5 $5 {An interesting trade. Although simplifications allow Black more freedom,
White gains the bishop pair.} bxc3 18. Nxd4 Qxd4 19. bxc3 Qd8 20. Rb1 Rb8 21.
exf6 {Missing the last intermezzo which would have given White an even better
position:} (21. Rd1 $1 Nd5 (21... Qe7 $2 22. exf6 Qxf6 23. f5 Ne5 $16 {White
is a full tempo ahead compared to what happened in the game.} 24. Bf4) 22. c4
$14) 21... Qxf6 22. f5 Ne5 23. Qe4 $14 {Objectively speaking, Black should be
able to hold, but he has to play very precisely in order to negate White's
bishop pair. Any slight mistake will likely cost him the game.} Qe7 $4 {A
mistake, but one that his opponent missed.} 24. Bf4 $4 (24. f6 $1 {wins on the
spot} gxf6 (24... Qe6 25. Bf4 Rfe8 (25... gxf6 26. Bd3 Nxd3 27. Qxd3 $1 $18)
26. Bd3 g6 27. Bxe5 Qxe5 28. Qxe5 Rxe5 29. Ba6 $18) 25. Bd3 $1 f5 26. Qxf5 Nxd3
27. Qxd3 $18 {And Black is going to lose material.}) 24... f6 25. Bc4+ Kh8 26.
Be6 c5 27. Qe2 Rbd8 28. Rbd1 $5 {White wisely does not want to give up the
bishop pair even for a pawn.} (28. Bxe5 fxe5 29. Qxe5 Rd2 30. Rg1 Rfd8 $14 {
And Black has some good counterplay. White was understandably not interested
in cashing in his advantage just yet.}) 28... Qc7 29. Rxd8 $6 {Not very sure
that this was a good idea. There was no need to exchange rooks just yet.
Although by doing this, Black loses nearly all his chances for counterplay,
White also forfeits some pressure.} (29. Rde1 $5 Rfe8 30. h3 g6 31. Qc2 gxf5
32. Bxf5 Qg7 $14 {Maintains a decent edge for White. There's a lot of play
left for both sides.}) 29... Rxd8 30. Rd1 {Now Black is much more comfortable.}
Rd6 $6 {giving White a chance.} (30... Rxd1+ 31. Qxd1 g5 32. fxg6 hxg6 $11 {
Black should be able to hold this without too much trouble. Although the only
side who can expect to win is White, I think that most of the pressure has
worn off.}) 31. h3 {Now the exchange of rooks does not provide Black with
breathing space as he has no back rank mate threat.} Qc6 (31... Rxd1+ 32. Qxd1
g5 33. Bxe5 Qxe5 34. Qd8+ $18) 32. Rxd6 Qxd6 $14 {White has a decent edge
again and this time he never looks back.} 33. Kg1 a6 {Black is out of options;
his pieces are tied down and he can only wait.} 34. Qd2 Qxd2 35. Bxd2 {This
should now be a draw, but White has the cards. Black is fighting for a draw,
and only White can claim to try for a win.} g6 36. Be3 gxf5 $6 {Another tiny
inaccuracy.} (36... Nd3 37. fxg6 hxg6 38. Kf1 a5 39. Ke2 Be4 40. g3 $14 {There
is a game left to play.}) 37. Bxf5 {Now Black has a lot of weaknesses. White
shows how Black cannot hope to protect them all.} Bd5 38. a3 c4 39. Bc8 a5 40.
Bb6 Nc6 41. Bb7 a4 42. Ba6 Ne5 43. Bd4 {Perfect technique by White, forcing
Black to concede at least a pawn. Sadly, the ending is lost for Black.} Kg7 44.
Bxe5 fxe5 45. Bb5 Kf6 46. Kf2 Kg5 47. Bxa4 h5 48. g3 h4 49. gxh4+ $18 {With 2
passers, White can win this easily. A very safe and steady play by White.
Black made no discernable mistake, barring the blunder missed by both sides,
other than a few minor inaccuracies, but that is sometimes just enough to tip
the scales against the bishop pair.} 1-0
